Kurland Stamps 1945
On 17th June 1940 the Soviet Army occupied Latvia under the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The German Army later invaded the Soviet Union (code name Operation Barbarossa) on 22nd June 1941 and occupied the region as it pushed the Russians back. The tide of war turned again with the German defeat at Stalingrad in 1942 and the Russians advanced rapidly trapping around 200,000 German troops in what came to be known as the Kurland pocket in 1944. The German Army remained trapped in the pocket until they finally surrendered in May 1945 at the war's end.
Michel 2
"Hitler Head Definitives"
Issued on 20th Apr 1945. Regular issue Third Reich Hitler Medallions, 1941 Michel 787 with black overprinted 'KURLAND'.
Mi 2
6 on 10Pf
dark sienna, black red brown
variations
6 on 10Pf
dark sienna, black red brown
variations
Quantity Issued: 75,000
VARIATIONS
Mi 2 vx
bright gum, vertical fluted
bright gum, vertical fluted
Mi 2 wz
dark gum, without ribbing
dark gum, without ribbing
PLATE FLAWS
NO KNOWN PLATE FLAWS
STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION
(1)
Mi 2
Front
Mint, Unused
Mi 2
Front
Mint, Unused
(1)
Mi 2
Reverse
Mi 2
Reverse